Ore concentrating table



' Oct. 8, 1946. E. R. IMCPHETERS 2,408,797

ORE CQNCENTRATING TABLE Filed Feb. 1, 1944. s Sheets-She 1 Inventor Oct1946- E. R. M PHETERS ORE CONCENTRATING TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb.1, 1944 06%. 8, 1946. MCPHETERS I 2,408,797-

ORE CONCENTRATING TABLE Filed Feb. 1, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I nventar I@Mm M I), H 1 E g Attorneys Patented Oct. 8, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to ore concentrators, orepulp specificconcentrators and separators, sluice troughs and the like, the preferredembodiment thereof being ideal for recoveiy and separation of rawminerals, this because it is possessed of details and an arrangementthereof which will properly and systematically classify the ores intogroups according to specific gravity, whereby to provide an extra fineconcentrate with three or more lower classes of concentrates as ishighly desirable, for best marketing values.

Considerable difficulties and perplexing situations attend thehandlingand usage of-presentday varied types of concentrating units inrecovering .the minerals in scientific and best value groups formarketing, the handlers of such units getting either one goodconcentrate with extra low production and too much value lost-i-n-waste,or a low grade concentrate characterized by an over-abundance ofinsolubles and waste.

Due to years of trained experience and research, scientifically andotherwise, conducting mine operations I am familiar with various typesof ball mills, pulp conditioning, sizing and deslimer machines,concentrator-type separators, sluice boxes and the like. That is to say,and in particular reference to the subj est-matter with which we arehere concerned, I arnfull well aware that many and varied are the typesof tables and troughs employing zig-zag sluice-ways. I can, therefore,point out with particularity that, bearing in mind the already existingdevices and developments in the prior arts, I have evolved and produceda concentrator and separator construc tion in which an arrangement ofbutton-like individually and selectively adjustable regulatingdeflectors, in alternating sequence at adjoining ends of the successivesluice-ways for grading and classifying ore pulp in its downward passageover the plate, constitute an outstanding development and improvementwith which we are here particularly concerned.

In addition to these adjustable ore pulp defleeting regulators coastingwith the discharge ends of the grading channels or sluice-ways, noveltyis also predicated upon the adoption and use of special typepartitioning dividers, each divider having a plate on one side disposedat an angle to the main horizontal base plate, and the opposite faces orsides of said partitions being beveled to enhance settling of the gradedor grouped concentrates.

Other features and advantages of the invention will becomemore readilyapparent from the following description and the accompanyingillustrativedrawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same-- Figure 1 is a top plan view of theore-pulpreceiving, concentrating, separating and classifying unit ortable constructed in accordance with the principles of the instantinvention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation ofthe complete apparatus or machine showingnot only the adjustable table but the retrieving bins 'for theclassified minerals.

Figure 3 is an end view of the structure seen in Figure 2 observing itin the direction from left to'right.

Figure 4 is an exaggeratedfragmentary detail view on the plane of theline 44of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section'on the plane of the line 5-5of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an exaggerated detail sectional and elevational view takenon the plane of the general line 6-6 of Figure '7.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary top plan View of the intake end of the tableshowing a diagonal separator or partitioning unit in which a ribbed orcorrugated plate is employed to obtain a desired riflle action onthe'ore pulp mass.

The overall or complete structural arrangement may be divided, broadlyinto two parts; namely, A and B. The sub-structure A comprises a,framework including uprights 9 with enclosing walls It! of appropriatematerial and dimensions, these defining an enclosure which is divided,through the medium of transverse and longitudinal divider walls H and I2into classified mineral depositories or bins. As seen by dotted linepicturization in Figure 1, the complete structure is divided into eightdistinguishable bins.

The table-type separator and concentrator unit B has a slight gravityincline, the discharge end being hinged as at l3 to the correspondingend of the sub-structure A. At the opposite end the table ortrough-walls M are provided with suitable brackets i5 engaged by theadjustable end of raising and lowering feed screws 16 in fixed bracketsI! on the adjacent posts- 9. The inlet or feed means for the ore-pulp isat the left hand end of the structure, this being a channel oftrough-like form l8 from the deslusher and .ball-mill or similar crusherstruc--. ture. The discharge channel is at the opposite end and denotedby the numeral I91 As prelying and partly valving the hole.

3 viously indicated, the bottom of the box or table, denoted at 20, ispreferably in the form of a polished steel or equivalent metal plate.This is provided at longitudinally spaced alternate points withdischarge openings or holes 2| in alignment with the underlying bins.Certain of these holes are provided with short tubes or pipes 22 havinghooks 23 to accommodate detachable gravity test buckets 24 made forsizing and keeping a close test on each separation step. Similardischarge pipes 2'5 with lateral shunting nozzles 26 serve to deliverthe remaining gravity separated minerals into their deppsitories orbins.

The plate is provided with a plurality of staggered properly angled andarranged dividers or partition elements 21 of duplicate constructions,these dividing the plate transversely into progressively arrangedsluice-ways 28. It will be noticed that the partitions 21 are soarranged as to terminate adjacent the discharge holes 2|. Thus, theore-pulp is concentrated as it leaves each sluice-way and is acted uponbefore it enters the next sluice-way, this through the medium of thedouble pointed deflector type regulators 29. These grading regulatorsare in. number according to the number of discharge holes or openings2|. In fact, each hole has a pulp grading regulator cooperable therewithand this is of crescent-shaped configuration and eccentrically pivotedas at 30 with one point over- The opposite end is provided with anarcuate slot 3| coacting with a bolt 32 and thumb nut 33 which permitsproper angling and setting of said regulator 29.

In order to bring out a function in the system of operation to be laterdescribed, it is desirable to distinguish the regulators 29 successivelyby the numerals I to 8, inclusive. Reference for this is had to Figure 1of the drawings. It is to be pointed out too, at this point, that thepitch of the table unit A is generally very slight but it isnevertheless variable to regulate it to determine for best recoveryoperations.

Extra water supply and delivery pipes 34 on opposite sides of thetable-troughs are provided and these are, in turn, provided with jets 35and 36 leading into the respective sluice-Ways 28 to liquify the massand to facilitate spreading the water over the plate and to thus avoidconges- :ion and to make for faster and accurate separaion.

This concentrator is designed not only to separate the metals from thewaste, but to separate the heavier more precious metals from metals ofdifferent character and weight, by gravity. Metals of different gravitymay be separated further after the first concentration by putting itover a second plate and watching the gravity closely.

Separators I, 2, and 3 to be set for a specific ravity of six (6), whichwill recover the following minerals: gold, bismuth gold, tellurium,calaverite, nagyagite, hessite, petzite, sylvanite, silver (native),argentite, cerargyrite, stephanite, platinum, sperrylite, iridium,osmium, palladium, copper (native), cuprite, lead (galena) cerrusite,anglesite, pyromorphite, crocoite, massicot, scheelite, ferberite,hubnerite, wolframite, uranium, vanadilite, tin, cassiterite,quicksilver, cinnabar, bismuth, bismuthinite, n c smaltite, andcobaltite.

epa ators 4, and 6 to be set at a specific ravity of four (4) which willrecover the following minerals: ruby, silver, calcocite, tetrahedrite.chalcopyrite, melaconite, bornite, brocha ti e,

4 smithsonite, zincite, antimony, jamesonite, magnetite, red hematite,chromite, pyrolusite, molybdenite, titanium, descloizite,foleyrite,b1ueite,llnnaeite, and cadmium.

Separators l and 8 to be set at a specific gravity of three (3) whichwill recover the following minerals: malachite, azurite, calamine,spalerite, limonite, siderite, manganese oxide (wad) psilomelane,rhodocrosite, volborthite, whartonite, and any of the other mineralsthat may be altered or oxidized, having a gravity over waste lime orquartz (2.6). By accurate setting 1, 2 and 3 will produce differentgrade products if desired.

Gravity is very accurate and efficient providing care is taken toovercome existing conditions, the main items in operating thisconcentrator to full efficiency is to have plenty of water fiow and tocrush fine to separate different metals (mechanically mixed). Chemicallymixed metals will fall between the two metals on the plate.

The outstanding phases and features of the invention, structurallyspeaking, are the new and novel partitions defining and dividing thetroughlike table into the zig-zag concentration areas or sluice-ways,the discharge openings at the connecting ends of the progressivesluice-ways and the valving type deflectors and regulator mem bers 29,preferably of crescent-shaped configuration.

As brought out in Figures 4 and 5, each divider is substantiallyV-shaped in cross-sectional form and provides a slanting or beveled face21a on one side. On the opposite side I provide a metal strip or plate21b. This construction and arrangement is succeptible of accomplishingthe desired fast and accurate settling of the mineral laden pulp.

Reference being had at this stage to Figure 4, I desire to callattention to the fact that the plate 211) is preferably adjustablymounted on the body 21a. This is accomplished by vertical slots 31 andappropriate screws or similar fasteners 38. As brought out in Figure 5,the purpose of this is to adjust the lower edge of the plate 21a towardand from the table plate 20. Further, it will be noticed that thepartition strip or body 21a has its lower corner portion undercut andbeveled as indicated at 39, this cooperating with the adjustable edge ofthe plate 21a to provide a concentration pocket. I might also point outin connection with Figure 5 that the approximate degree or inclinationof the plate 21a in relation to the table plate 20 is 78 degrees asindicated by the arrow-head line 40.

Attention now comes to a refinement or modification depicted in Figure7. In the other forms of the invention shown the plate 21a can be plain.In the arrangement seen in Figure 7, the plate is preferably corrugated,that is, provided with ribs defining between themselves grooves and thuspreventing an undulated surface from end to end. The ribs 4| are ofequal distances apart, that is from the left toward the right as seen inFigure 7. The two endmost ribs are more widely spaced as indicated at42. The arrows 43, 44 and 45 designate generally the course of action ofthe pulp.

Referring again to Figure '7 it will be observed that the end of thepartitioning device 21 in practice terminates about one foot from theadjacent wall of the table. The adjacent pointed end of thecrescent-shaped regulator 29 is disposed in approximate alignment withthe pocket or groove defined by the undercut surface 39. This is broughtout by the dotted line. In practice the adjacent point is approximatelyone-quarter of an inch from the end of the divider or partition 21. Thedistance of the point from the partition is increased about one-quarterof an inch in each succeeding step. The device 29 is to be about eightinches in length and the left hand pointed end (Figure 7) laps theconcentrate holes 2|. This being, in practice, about three and one-halfinches in diameter. The crescent-shaped separator itself is about twoinches in height, this being two-thirds of the height of the partitionunit 21.

Reviewing the principle of operation of the arrangement depicted inFigure 7 it is evident that the pulp and water coming in at the inlet [8will travel along the rifiled surface 4| of the plate 211) withreasonable velocity, the water and pulp contacting the rifiies beingagitated and thrown away from the riiiied surface in a downward andoutward direction as indicated by the various arrows 43. This spreadsthe pulp over the plate 20. When it reaches the end of the riiiiedpartition the pulp will be washed away with more direct and added forceover the regulator, that is, the first pointed end of the regulator 29.The heavier ores are washed down to and over the plate in such a mannerthat the heavier ores will remain below the lighter pulp on the plateand will (from natural gravity) gradually settle into the pocket orspace 39. Then upon being forced and washed apast the regulator 29 willpermit the heavier ores to settle directly into the exit 2| and willforce the lighter ores and waste .to wash around the outside, that is,the convex surface of the regulator 29 into the next sluice-way to betreated similarly,

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and arrangement of details comingwithin the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actualpractice, if desired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a concentrator and separator table unit for ore-pulp, a baseplate, a transversely arranged divider partition on said plate extendingfrom one side wall and terminating in spaced relation from the otherside wall, a second divider partition extending from the last-named sidewall and having its free end portion terminating in spaced relation tothe first-named side wall, a discharge hole in the plate between thefree outer end of the firstnamed partitioning divider and adjacentintermediate portion of the second divider, and a pivotally mountedmanually adjusted regulator and deflector element on the plate havingone end cooperable with the adjacent free end of the firstnamed dividerand its opposite end overlapping and cooperable with the dischargeopening.

2. In an ore-pulp concentrating and separating table unit, a bottom anda surrounding marginal wall, a pair of transverse partition dividers onthe bottom, a discharge opening in the bottom at the free end of one ofsaid partitioning dividers and adjacent the intermediate portion of thesecond-named partitioning divider, and a crescentshaped regulatorelement eccentrically pivoted on the base with one point adjustablymovable toward and from the free end of the first-named partitioningdivider and the opposite point overlapping and co-acting with thedischarge opening, said regulator element being adapted to function notonly as a valving element for the opening but as a deflector, whereby tocause certain of the currents to pass between it and the free end of thepartitioning divider and other portions of the currents to pass andsweep around its curvate edge in the direction of the intermediateportion of the second-named divider.

3. In a structure of the class, described, an ore pulp concentrator andseparator table comprising a flat bottom, an intake in one end, adiagonal partition secured to said bottom and engaged at one end withthe wall of a table adjacent said intake, the opposite end being spacedfrom the opposed wall of said table, said bottom having a discharge holetherein adjacent the last-named end of said partition said partitioningdevice being provided on one face with an undulated plate for rifilingthe mass of ore pulp, and a substantially crescent-shaped adjustablymounted regulator on the bottom of the table and having one pointed endadjacent the coordinated end of said partition, the opposite endshiitably covering a portion of said hole, this to govern the size ofthe latter.

4. In a structure of the class described, an ore pulp concentrator andseparator table comprising a fiat bottom, a diagonal partition securedto said bottom, said table having a surrounding upstanding wall, saidpartition being secured at one end of said wall, the opposite endthereof being spaced from an opposed parallel wall, said bottom having adischarge hole therein adjacent to the last-named end of said partition,said partition being substantially triangular in cross-sectional form toprovide a bevel surface on one side, a plate secured to the oppositeside, said plate being shiftably mounted to vary the distance of itslower edge toward and from the bottom, and that portion of the partitionbelow the lower edge of said plate being undercut to coact with saidbottom and plate, and a substantially crescentshaped, adjustably mountedcombined regulator and deflector on the bottom, the latter having onepointed end adjacent to and co-acting with the corresponding end of saidpartition, and the opposite end shiftably covering a portion of saidhole, this to govern the size of the latter.

ERWIN R. MCPHETERS.

